What is Multidisciplinary Integrated                                                                                                                                                                                                    G o a l s   o f   a   M u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y   I n t e g r a t e d   C u r r i c u l u m  
                                                           Curriculum?                                                                                                                                                                                                                             • I n c r e a s e   A c t i v e   L e a r n i n g —Integrated curriculum 
                                                           The term “integrated curriculum” has many                                                                                                                                                                                                       shifts classroom instruction from passive to active, 
                                                           different, sometimes conflicting, meanings to                                                                                                                                                                                                   thereby engaging more students in the learning 
                                                           different educators. In the context of the Linked                                                                                                                                                                                               process. Students become the center of the learning 
                                                           Learning approach, we use integrated curriculum to                                                                                                                                                                                              experience by collaborating in real-life career-
                                                           refer to an instructional method and materials for                                                                                                                                                                                              focused projects and problems that connect to their 
                                                           multidisciplinary teams of teachers to organize their                                                                                                                                                                                           current interests and future pursuits. 
                                                           instruction so that students are encouraged to make                                                                                                                                                                                     • Develop Students’ Educational and Career 
                                                           meaningful connections across subject areas.                                                                                                                                                                                                    P l a n n i n g  S k i l l s —By participating in professional 
                                                           English, mathematics, science, social studies, and                                                                                                                                                                                              work and engaging with employees who address 
                                                           career technical teachers all collaborate to plan and                                                                                                                                                                                           exciting and challenging problems in their jobs, 
                                                           present lessons that center around a central, career–                                                                                                                                                                                           students recognize the need to perform well in high 
                                                           themed issue or problem.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        school, understand the educational pathways 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           l eading to a variety of rewarding careers, and pursue 
                                                           Characteristics of An Effective Multidisciplinary                                                                                                                                                                                                         postsecondary education or training to achieve 
                                                                                                                                                1
                                                           I   n t e g r a t e d   C u r r i c u l u m                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      personal career goals. Integrated 
                                                           • Academic  and  T e c h n i c a l   R i g o r —                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             curriculum also provides students with 
                                                                   Curriculum units are designed to                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             knowledge of a wide variety of 
                                                                   address key learning standards                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    career-related fields by creating 
                                                                   identified by the district.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          r e s e a r c h   o p p o r t u n i t i e s   a n d   c a r e e r  
                                                           • A u t h e n t i c i t y —Units use a real-                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  connections with professionals in 
                                                                   world context (e.g., community                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       many jobs within a career area. 
                                                                   and workplace problems) and                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 • Reach a Diverse Population—
                                                                   address issues that matter to the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Students who participate in 
                                                                   students.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               integrated curricula are able to 
                                                           • A p p l ied Learning—Units engage                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 express their own interests, demonstrate 
                                                                   students in solving problems that call for                                                                                                                                                                                                               their unique skills, and master high-level 
                                                                   competencies expected in high-performance work                                                                                                                                                                                          academic and technical material by applying a 
                                                                   organizations (e.g., teamwork, problem-solving,                                                                                                                                                                                         variety of learning styles. 
                                                                   communication, etc.).                                                                                                                                                                                                           • B u i l d   C o m m u n i t y   S u p p o r t   f o r   I m p r o v i n g   H i g h  
                                                           • A c t i v e   E x p l o r a t i o n —Units extend beyond the                                                                                                                                                                                  S c h o o l s —By engaging key industry, education, 
                                                                   classroom by connecting to internships, field-                                                                                                                                                                                          and community-based stakeholders in their local 
                                                                   based investigations, and community explorations.                                                                                                                                                                                       areas, these educators are creating support for 
                                                           • Adult Connections—Units connect students with                                                                                                                                                                                                 schools and proactive education improvement 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           policies, and providing future employment oppor-
                                                                   adult mentors and coaches from the community’s                                                                                                                                                                                          tunities for their students. 
                                                                   industry and postsecondary partners.                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                           • Assessment Practices—Units involve students in 
                                                                   regular performance-based exhibitions and as-
                                                                   sessments of their work; evaluation criteria reflect 
                                                                   personal, school, and real-world standards of per-
                                                                   formance. 
                                                                                                            
                                                           1 Based on A. Steinberg (1997). Real Learning, Real Work. 
                                                           New York: Routledge.